In 2012 and 2013, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) plants from commercial crops in São Paulo State were found showing mosaic, necrotic lesions, leaf deformation and necrotic spots on the fruits, suggestive of tospovirus infection. Leaf and fruit samples were separately tested by PTA‐ELISA and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) against tospovirus was performed. The virus was identified as Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) and was sap transmissible. The host range was similar to isolates of GRSV found naturally infecting Solanaceae, except that this isolate infected watermelon systemically but did not infect tomato cvs. Santa Clara and Mariana. Thrips collected in the field transmitted GRSV to watermelon, sweet pepper and Nicotiana species. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the natural infection of watermelon by GRSV.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of lemon grass, citronella grass, Mexican-tea and noni essential oils on urediniospore germination of Olivea neotectonae, the agent responsible for rust in Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.); to evaluate the phytotoxic effect of these essential oils on teak seedlings; and to evaluate the use of essential oils to control rust in teak plants when preventively and curatively applied. We found that the noni and lemon grass essential oils inhibited 100% of urediniospore germination. On the other hand, the essential oils from noni and lemon grass caused phytotoxicity when applied to seedlings at concentrations of 2000 and 1500 μL L-1 , respectively. The major constituents found in lemon grass essential oil were Geranial and Neral, while Octanoic Acid was found in noni oil. Lower values in the area below the rust progress curve were observed with the preventive application of lemon grass and noni essential oils.

Potassium fertilizer and irrigation management in the progress of fungal diseases and yield of watermelonAmong the major diseases of watermelon, gummy stem blight (Didymella bryoniae) and downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) stand out because they cause great losses in productivity and fruit quality. To investigate the influence of potassium fertilization on the progress of gummy stem blight and yield of watermelon and the influence of the water depth and the interval of irrigation in the progress of mildew, two assays were carried out under field conditions in Gurupi, Tocantins state, Brazil, in 2009 and 2010. The assay I was carried out in blocks and the treatments consisted of three doses of potassium applied (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha using KCl) and 12 replications. We evaluated the severity of gummy stem blight through a scale and the production data and fruit quality. In the assay II, we used a randomized complete block design with four replications in a factorial 3 x 3, three irrigation levels (100, 300 and 500 mm of water during the crop cycle) and three irrigation intervals. We evaluated the severity of downy mildew addition, the production and fruit quality. Doses of potassium did not affect the progress of gummy stem blight and the number, weight and fruit quality. The irrigation applied influenced the progress of downy mildew. Higher levels of severity of downy mildew were observed in plants cultivated under irrigation with levels of 500 mm of water. The amount of water applied also significantly influenced the production and fruit quality. We observed the presence of more crooked or deformed fruits in plants kept under water using a level of 100 mm. The highest total and marketable yield were obtained in plants irrigated with the level of 500 mm of water.

No abstract

Rust, caused by Olivea neotectonae, stands out as the main teak disease, causing premature defoliation regardless of the tree's growth stage. In this study, we aimed to assess the temporal progress of rust in adult teak plants in southern Tocantins State (Brazil). Both rust incidence and severity were evaluated and the disease progress curves were obtained, adjusting to monomolecular, logistic and Gompertz mathematical models. Data from incidence and severity were correlated with climate variables collected by the agrometeorological station located in the study area. Rust incidence reached 100% at 98 days after beginning of the evaluations (DBE). The highest severity (equal or above 75%) was observed at 147 DBE. There was a significant and negative correlation between severity and minimum temperature. The adjustment of the Gompertz model suggests that control measures should be aimed primarily to reduce the rate of disease progress. KEYWORDS: epidemiology, Tectona grandis, Olivea neotectonae Progresso temporal da ferrugem da teca em uma área tropical no Estado do Tocantins, Brasil RESUMOA ferrugem, causada por Olivea neotectonae, destaca-se como principal doença da teca, causando desfolha prematura em todos os estádios fenológicos da cultura. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o progresso temporal da ferrugem em plantas adultas de teca no sul do Estado do Tocantins. Avaliaram-se a incidência e severidade da ferrugem (escala de notas) e obtiveram-se curvas de progresso da doença, que foram ajustadas aos modelos matemáticos monomolecular, logístico e Gompertz. Correlacionaramse os dados de incidência e severidade com as variáveis climáticas coletadas na estação meteorológica, localizada na região do estudo. A incidência da ferrugem atingiu 100% aos 98 dias a partir do início das avaliações (DIA). A maior severidade (igual ou acima de 75%) foi observada aos 147 DIA. Houve correlação negativa e significativa entre severidade e temperatura mínima. O ajuste ao modelo de Gompertz sugere que medidas de controle devem ser tomadas objetivando reduzir a taxa de progresso da doença.

Existem poucos estudos relacionados ao impacto de queimadas sobre os fungos habitantes do solo presente no cerrado. Objetivou-se com este trabalho identifcar a micoflora presente em amostras de solos, antes e após o processo de queimada em duas profundidades, observando a interferência deste processo na população de fungos habitantes do solo. As amostras foram coletadas em uma área, no município de Jaú do Tocantins, Estado do Tocantins. Foram instalados bioensaios em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições e cinco tratamentos, representados por diferentes concentrações de solução do solo. A identifcação dos fungos foi feita, em nível de gênero, de acordo com suas estruturas morfológicas formadas em meio de cultura, através de observações em microscópio ótico. Na área antes da queimada, observou-se a presença de maior diversidade de gêneros e quantidade de colônias fúngicas. O contrário foi constatado na área posteriormente submetida à queimada, que apresentou menor número de colônias fúngicas. Dos gêneros identifcados, destacaram-se Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Mucor, Pythium e Trichoderma, que apresentaram maior número de colônias em quantidades representativas. Observou-se ainda uma redução em torno de 45% na população de fungos antagonistas. Foi possível constatar que o uso do fogo na vegetação influenciou negativamente as populações microbianas presentes nas camadas mais sup

The rice blast is the most important disease of the rice, due to the damage that it causes in the productivity and grain quality. Aiming at the use of essential oils and plant extracts to control this disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the curative and preventive effect of the extracts and essential oil of citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus L.) to control rice blast. The evaluation of the curative effect was performed seven days after the spraying with the extracts of citronella grass. As for the evaluation of preventive effect, the plants were sprayed with the treatments and 24 hours after inoculated with 20 mL of the spore solution per tray. In the assessing of the curative effect, it was found that the application of fungicide and the diluted essential oil of citronella grass at a concentration of 2% plants showed no symptoms of blast in 50% of the repetitions. Regarding the evaluation of preventive effect, the plants showed no symptoms of the disease in concentrations of 1.5, 1.75 and 2% of the essential oil of citronella grass in 50% of the repetitions.

The fungal genus Curvularia is associated with a number of diseases in plants, commonly producing foliar spots in forage grasses. The objective of this study was to characterize the morphological and molecular diversity of the isolates of Curvularia sp. associated with Andropogon seeds, and to assess both their capacity to transmit disease and the pathogenicity of this fungus to crop. Ten isolates of Curvularia sp. were sourced from Andropogon seeds from agricultural producing regions in the Brazilian states Tocantins and Pará. Morphological characterization was achieved by observing fungus colonies and conidia and molecular characterization by DNA extraction and amplification with sequence-specific primers.